Top 10 Best Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders Reviews & Buying Guide

Do You wanna save your bird feeders from squirrel?

Let’s dig into the details of Best Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders.

You might have one day bought a gorgeous bird feeder for the local birds to feast. You installed it in your yard and noticed that the birds noticed the feeder within hours. However, you also noticed that the birds aren’t the only animals that want the bird seed.

Squirrels are a big problem with bird feeders. They are smart and stubborn, so getting seed from regular bird feeders is no problem for them. Fortunately, there are bird feeders out there that are designed to protect the seed from squirrels.

If that’s what you are looking for, then the 10 feeders that we think are the best squirrel proof bird feeders will surely be of great interest to you! Make yourself comfortable, and let’s see what they have to offer!

Top 10 Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Reviews

Up first on our reviews of best squirrel proof bird feeders is Heritage Farms Woodlink bird feeder. This particular bird feeder offers some design choices that are not found in the rest of the feeders we reviewed today.

The body of this bird feeder is made from durable powder-coated steel for increased longevity. The big roof of this bird feeder protects the seeds inside from getting wet. You can remove the roof to easily clean or refill the bird feeder.

Woodlink Absolute Squirrel Resistant Bird Feeder has a huge capacity of 15 lbs., meaning that you will have to think about refills less frequently. You might think that the more seeds a bird feeder holds, the more mess it makes, but it isn’t the case for this feeder as it has seed saver baffle to keep the seed inside.

When it comes to squirrel protection, Woodlink bird feeder performs quite well thanks to its hanging perch. Under the weight of squirrels, as well as larger birds, the perch descends, pulling the seed protector down to restrict access to seed. The perch can be regulated between three positions for more or less weight sensitivity.

Woodlink bird feeder comes with a steel hanging rod for hanging, as well as a 5-foot pole kit. The pole is rather short, as you can see, so you might want to upgrade to taller poles if you end up getting this bird feeder.

Squirrel-X Squirrel Proof Suet Bird Feeder is a classical cage bird feeder. It employs an outer cage that surrounds the suet from outside, thus not allowing squirrels and small bird to get to the suet.

Squirrel-X bird feeder holds 2 suet cakes, which will be good if you want to have less frequent refills. However, keep in mind that if you load in just one suet, the feeder will hang asymmetrically due to the design of the cage.

The roof of Squirrel-X squirrel proof bird feeder is made from durable and weather proof powder-coated steel, so the suet won’t get wet from the rain. Apart from that, the open design of this bird feeder allows for better air circulation, which in its turn ensures that the suet stays fresh. Besides, the cage design allows you to easily check the level of the bird suet.

For increased suet protection, you can purchase baffles produced by Squirrel-X.

It should be noted that this bird feeder might work not so well against large birds that have small heads and long necks. Though bird protection isn’t really the topic today, you should know about this little issue. Such birds could just stick their heads into the cage and pick the sides and corners of the suet. A good option would be to just slice off those sides before putting the suet into the cage.

If you liked Heritage Farms Woodlink bird feeder but didn’t feel that you need that much seed capacity, then have a look at Perky-Pet Squirrel Be Gone II bird feeder!

This one uses a similar mechanism to protect the seed from squirrels: the weight of squirrels, as well as large birds triggers the protection cover to close the seed opening. This is a rather effective design, though especially smart squirrels and birds might just hang from the roof to not trigger the mechanism.

For increased protection, you could choose one of the four sensitivity settings to maximally limit the access of squirrels to the seed.

In terms of easiness of use, Squirrel Be Gone bird feeder is rather nice as it is very easy to refill and clean: you just need to remove the roof to do both. Speaking of the roof, it is made from galvanized steel for durability, as well as weather protection. However, the roof lacks overhang to protect the seed openings from rain, so you might occasionally get the bird seed wet.

We almost to forgot to mention that Squirrel Be Gone bird feeder has about 8 lbs. of seed capacity, which allows for pretty long seed supply with no refills.

Audubon Squirrel Proof bird feeder is a rather nice and effective feeder. It features a wired cage design that prevents squirrels and larger birds from accessing the feeding ports of this bird feeder. And because there is some respectable distance between the outer cage and the feeding tube, you can be sure that agile squirrels won’t have a grasp of the seeds. But keep in mind that PhD squirrels might figure out how to open the top lid!

This bird feeder has 1.25 lbs. of seed capacity, which will be good for areas with low bird traffic, especially given that this bird feeder has only 4 feeding ports. The tube is transparent and thus easy to spot the level of seed with. Once the feeder is low on seed, you just need to remove the top lid and refill the tube.

While refilling this bird feeder is easy, we can’t say the same about cleaning because you would need to use a screwdriver to detach the tube from the cage for easy cleaning.

A downside of this bird feeder that you must keep in mind is that it has openings in its wiring, particularly at the bottom, which could just trap birds, so you would need to wrap tape around the openings to prevent it.

The cage of GrayBunny GB-6860 is made from premium-quality steel. This allows for durability as well as protection from chewing, which is a frequent problem with squirrels. The openings in the steel cage are just the right size to allow small birds to feed, though keep in mind that large birds with small heads still can get to the seed.

This bird feeder is equipped with a removable top latch that allows for easy refilling. The clear design of the tube also lets you monitor the level of the seed remaining in the feeder. GrayBunny bird feeder also features 4 seed ports that are positioned on different levels in pairs to allow the birds to not disturb each other’s eating.

As for the downsides, we should note the top latch that could be more durable and difficult to open. Smart squirrels might be able to figure it out pretty quickly.

Brome Squirrel Buster Plus is the most top-rated squirrel proof bird feeder we reviewed today. And that isn’t much of a surprise as it has a very effective squirrel protection system!

There is nothing revolutionary in the squirrel protection of the Squirrel Buster Plus as it uses a familiar weight-operated perch. However, because this feeder has a rather pronounced top baffle, they won’t be able to trick the protection of the Squirrel Buster Plus!

As effective as it is, the Squirrel Buster Plus allows for spring adjustment for varying weight sensitivity for even better performance if you need it!

The materials the Squirrel Buster Plus are made from are chew-proof, so you can be sure that the squirrels won’t be able to pry the bird feeder open. A nice thing about this bird feeder is that it can be dismantled tool-free, allowing for easy refilling and cleaning.

In terms of seed capacity, the Squirrel Buster Plus holds a nice amount of 5.1 lbs. of seed. The patented ventilation system of this bird feeder makes sure that the humidity doesn’t get to the seeds, which otherwise would force you to just throw them out and refill the feeder.

While the Squirrel Buster Plus can be either hanged or mounted on the pole, the latter variant is certainly the more convenient among the options because if the feeder swings, seeds would just fall out from the feeder on the ground.

Up next on our reviews of best squirrel proof bird feeders is yet another Squirrel Buster! This one is the Squirrel Buster Standard, which will be a good choice if you liked the Plus but didn’t feel like spending money on it. If you liked the Plus’s idea, the Standard will satisfy you as well!

The Squirrel Buster Standard is pretty similar to the Plus in terms of its features. It is equipped with chew-proof components, as well as is built from UV- and weather-resistant materials.

The weight-based squirrel protection is also here: it works in the same way, and also allows you to adjust the weight sensitivity of the perches. This allows for squirrel and even large bird protection.

The Squirrel Buster Standard can be dismantled without the use of any tools, allowing for quick refills and cleaning. Speaking of refills, you might need to do it rather frequently due to the low capacity of the Squirrel Buster Standard: it only accommodates 1.3 lbs. of seed.

And the issue with the swinging when hanged is present here as well, unfortunately. Moreover, because the Squirrel Buster Standard is lighter, it might make even bigger messes. So you might just want to mount it on a pole.

Roamwild PestOff bird feeder is another affordable model for you to have a look at! This one has 3 lbs. of seed capacity, so if the volume of the both the Squirrel Buster Plus and Standard wasn’t what you want, maybe this one will be.

PestOff bird feeder comes with the spring protection mechanism that we are already quite familiar with. However, this bird feeder doesn’t have any weight spring adjustability, but that won’t be a problem if you don’t need it.

Roamwild PestOff has two feed ports, which will be quite enough if there aren’t a lot of birds in your neighborhood. All in all, PestOff is a great choice if you are not planning to feed many birds. Likewise, in areas with many small birds, larger bird feeders with a bigger number of perches will be much better.

The design of PestOff allows for easy disassembling, cleaning, and refilling. And thanks to the clear body, you will be able to immediately notice if the feeder is running short on seeds.

What’s also remarkable about this bird feeder is that it has two baffles. The top baffle is the wider one, and it allows for general protection from weather elements. As for the lower baffle, it ensures that no water gets into the feed ports during rain, and it makes it harder for squirrels to reach the ports in case they somehow manage to hang from the top baffle in hopes of getting those seeds.

If feeding more birds at once is the thing you are aiming for, then Perky Pet Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder might be the right feeder. This bird feeder has enough perches to support 6 birds at once!

Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder has 2 lbs. of seed capacity though. But if you are alright with frequent refills, this won’t be a problem for you.

In terms of squirrel protection, this Perky-Pet bird feeder has weight-activated protection on each of each perch. Once squirrels get onto the perches, they lower and pull down the decorative leaf covers. And speaking of the covers, their design makes this bird feeder look gorgeous!

The materials of this bird feeder are rust-resistant and durable. However, some of the components of the feeder can be chewed off by especially stubborn squirrels. In areas with higher squirrel traffic, there are bigger odds that such a squirrel decides to feast on the seeds, which makes Squirrel-Be-Gone Wild Bird Feeder better for environments with fewer squirrel issues.

And the last product on our reviews of best squirrel proof bird feeders is Droll Yankees feeder, which is maybe the most remarkable bird feeder on our reviews. That’s because it is the only feeder we reviewed today that offers squirrel protection through a motorized perch ring!

The protection of this bird feeder works in the following way: when a squirrel hangs from the perch, its weight triggers the motor, which in its turn starts to quickly spin the perch. The squirrel won’t be able to hold on and will just let go of the perch. However, there are some stubborn squirrels out there, and they might figure out that it is worth it for them to do some acrobatic moves in order to get those seeds.

The motor operates on a battery, which can be recharged with the included AC adapter. Depending on how frequently the bird feeder is attacked by squirrels, the battery will have charge for about 2-3 weeks.

Weak caps and bases are common issues with bird feeders, but Droll Yankees feeder has a durable cap and base to ensure that the squirrels don’t chew through them.

Droll Yankees bird feeder is equipped with 4 bird ports, which will be good if you want to feed several birds at once. Plus, the capacity of 5 lbs. will make sure that the feeder doesn’t run out of seed quickly.

While this bird feeder is really good in terms of squirrel protection, it could be better. Because the feeding ports spin with the perch under the squirrel’s weight, the seeds just get spread around. You might minimize this by mounting the feeder on a pole, but there still might be some mess.

Pros:

Good bird seed capacity.

Equipped with 4 feeding ports.

Durable cap and base for enhanced squirrel protection.

Motorized perch ring protection.

Rechargeable motor battery.

Lifetime warranty.

Cons:

The feed ports spin with the perch, scattering seed around.

Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Buying Guide

We now have all those great bird feeders before us, but how do you choose the best one from them? To be able to do that, you need to distinguish between their different kinds, as well as their features. Let’s now see what makes squirrel proof bird feeders!

Types of Squirrel Proof Feeders

A squirrel proof bird feeder is a kind of a bird feeder that has active means of squirrel protection. By active means we imply that it is specifically designed to prevent squirrels from getting to the bird seed. Some models also work well against larger birds.

Squirrel proof bird feeders are of different types, which sometimes overlap with regular bird feeders. In particular, you typically won’t meet squirrel proof window feeders because they aren’t equipped with the squirrel protection methods that can be seen on squirrel proof bird feeders. Instead, you could regulate its squirrel protection level by mounting it in areas inaccessible to squirrels.

But if you can install a bird feeder in a hard to reach location, any kind of a feeder can be squirrel proof, right? That’s why we emphasized that squirrel proof bird feeders need to have active means of squirrel protection that work regardless of the area the feeder is installed in. A bird feeder that is squirrel proof only because you installed it in a far corner can’t be considered truly squirrel proof. Take this into account when looking for a squirrel proof bird feeder.

Now, let’s see what types of squirrel proof bird feeders there are.

House

House bird feeders, also known as hopper bird feeders, look like small a small house or barn, hence their name. House squirrel proof bird feeders hold the most seed, which makes them great for areas with high bird traffic. Typically employing weight-activated squirrel protection, house bird feeders can be quite effective against squirrels as long as they do not figure out ways to get to the seed without triggering the weight spring. Some features of house feeders can impact the ability of squirrels to do so, but more on that later.

Tubular

Tubular feeders consist of a tube, which is typically translucent to allow for easy monitoring of the seed level. Tubular bird feeders offer low to high seed capacity, though they typically don’t have as much capacity as house bird feeders.

In terms of squirrel protection, tubular bird feeders use weight-triggered mechanisms. Like house bird feeders, some bird feeders employ closing covers for the feeding ports that are triggered by the squirrel’s weight. Others feature motors that spin the perches as soon as a squirrel lands on them, forcing it to just let go.

Caged

The third main type of squirrel proof bird feeders is called “caged.” In its turn, caged bird feeders can be either suet or tubular. Caged suet bird feeders are filled with suet cakes instead of seed, which allows for less mess. As for tubular caged bird feeders, they consist of a feeder tube that is identical to the one of tubular bird feeders, as well as a cage that encloses the feeding tube.

The most spoken-of downside of caged feeders is that they sometimes trap birds’ feet. That is due to the openings in the mesh where the halves of the cage connect. This could be avoided by just taping those openings.

Each one of these squirrel proof bird feeders can be very effective against squirrels, as well as against larger birds. But you will have to consider more than just bird feeder types, so let’s see what else you should be taking into account.

Types of Squirrel Protection

Weight-triggered protection

Weight-triggered protection mechanisms get engaged when the weight of the animal on the bird feeder’s perch exceeds a certain limit. A typical weight-activated squirrel protection is based on the perch and the cover of the feeding port. Excessive weight pulls down the perch and the feeding port cover along with it.

Such squirrel proof bird feeders are rather effective, but there are a number of things to bear in mind. Firstly, squirrels can figure out ways to bypass the weight triggering mechanism. For example, with house bird feeders, squirrels may just hang from the roof and easily access the seeds. Or they could distribute their weight in such a way that they do not exceed the weight limit of the perch. A long hanging roof or baffle is a good way to prevent the former. As for the latter, you just need to make sure to get a bird feeder that has no areas that can be easily grabbed onto.

Weight-triggered squirrel protection systems can also be adjusted in terms of weight sensitivity. This could help against lighter squirrels, as well as won’t allow them to easily lean on to the perch even when hanging.

Spinning perches

Bird feeders with spinning perches operate on weight triggers as well, but the concept of squirrel protection is different. Bird feeders with spinning perches come with battery-operated motors that start rapidly spinning the perch as soon as the squirrel exceeds the weight limit of the squirrel protection.

The vast majority of squirrels won’t be able to hold on to a spinning perch, but you might still encounter some stubborn ones. Apart from that, an issue with spinning-perch bird feeders is that the seed can be scattered around if the feeding port doesn’t get closed when the perch starts rotating. Apart from that, those feed ports typically start spinning along with the perch, which additionally contributes to the loss of seed. However, this could be treated to some extent by just installing the feeder onto a post.

Cages

Bird feeders with cages can be the most secure feeders in terms of squirrel protection if it has the right features. Typically, the openings in caged bird feeders are just big enough to allow smaller birds to freely get in and out of the cage for eating. However, while squirrels and larger birds won’t be able to get into the cage, they still might be able to just reach into the cage and access the feeder’s feeding ports. This mostly happens with smaller cages because the distance between the cage and the feeding ports is too small.

However, if the size of the cage’s openings and the size of the cage itself is just right, no squirrel should be able to access the seeds. However, there are more factors impacting the bird feeder’s level of squirrel protection, which we will examine right now.

More Things to look For?

Materials

Materials play an important role in terms of the squirrel protection of the bird feeder. Bird feeders are typically made from stainless steel, which obviously cannot be chewed through or broken by squirrels.

However, this doesn’t mean that you are all secure from squirrels. They could still chew through the weaker parts of the bird feeder like the top lid, the bottom, and even the feeding tube itself if it is within their reach. You should thus pay close attention to every inch of the bird feeder to see what kind of weak points it might have.

Apart from squirrel protection, materials play an important role in the feeder’s resistance to corrosion, rusting, or UVs. Most of the bird feeders you can find today are made from powder-coated steel, which makes them weather- and rust-proof, as well as extends the lifetime of the feeder.

Baffles/roofs

Bird feeders typically have baffles/ roofs. These are pretty important from the standpoint of the feeder’s protection from both weather and squirrel attacks.

If the baffle/roof has a good overhang, you can be sure that rainwater won’t reach the feeding ports, which would otherwise make the seed rot and make it dangerous for birds. Besides, far-overhanging roofs/baffles will make it much more difficult for squirrels to just hang down the roof and reach the feeding ports. Overall, make sure to get a bird feeder with good a baffle/roof.

Number of feed ports

The number of feed ports can be quite important. In case the bird traffic in your area is low, you can avoid looking for bird feeders with a big number of feeding ports: 2 – 4 might be just enough. However, if you know that a lot of birds will be using the bird feeder at once, you may want to look for feeders with as many as 12 feeding ports. Oftentimes, the number of feeding ports is more important than capacity. If there aren’t enough feeding ports, the birds will have to wait in line, which might just annoy them and make them fly away in the end.

Capacity

Capacity is another feature that depends on the bird traffic in your area. It would make more sense to get a bird feeder with large capacity plus many feeding ports if there are a lot of birds in the neighborhood. However, capacity might be not as crucial as the number of feeding ports: in case of a small bird feeder with many ports, several birds will still be able to feed at once, but you will just have to do refills more often. So when choosing capacity, take both convenience and your requirements into account.

Clear view of the seed level

Tubular and suet bird feeders will allow you to easily determine how much bird seed/suet there is left in the bird feeder. That’s because tubular bird feeders feature transparent tubes, while with suet bird feeders, you always have a clear view of the suet in the cage. On the other hand, house bird feeders are not as convenient in terms of the monitoring of the seed level. So if you want to know how much seed there is left precisely, go for a tubular/suet bird feeder.

Ease of cleaning/refilling

Bird feeder’s easiness of cleaning and refilling depends on the feeder’s construction: the easier it is to disassemble, the quicker the cleaning/refilling will be. Some bird feeders might need the use of a screwdriver, while others can be easily taken apart with no tools. The downside of the latter feeders is that smart squirrels can figure out how to remove the top lid, which provides them access to the seed.

In general, house bird feeders are more convenient in terms of cleaning and refilling. With tubular bird feeders, you need to make sure that the tube can be removed from the cage for easier cleaning as you would otherwise need to use additional tools to clean the bottom of the tube.

Seed ventilation & drains

Some bird feeders ensure the ventilation of the seeds within the feeder. This allows the seed to not rot for extended periods of time. In addition to ventilation, bird feeders can have drains that let the water just go through the feeder in rain without accumulating at the bottom of the feeder, which is another factor that could lead to the seeds’ rotting.

Benefits of Getting a Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders

Fewer refills

Squirrels can get their hands on quite a lot of seeds in one go. This obviously means that the bird feeder will run out of bird seed or suet much quicker, which will in its turn make you refill the feeder more frequently. Squirrel proof bird feeders can prevent squirrels from doing this, allowing you to think about refills less often.

More food for the birds

Apart from forcing you to do more frequent refills, the birds will get less food if squirrels manage to get some for themselves. You buy bird feeders for birds in the first place after all, so this certainly is a problem. But that won’t be an issue with squirrel proof bird feeders!

Might save you money in the long run

Squirrels steal seeds, the birds get less food, you refill the feeder more frequently, and your supply of seeds or suet ends much quicker. You would obviously need to go get even more seed to be able to satisfy the birds. However, if you have a bird feeder that has squirrel protection, you won’t have to buy seeds that often, which can save your money in the long run!

Squirrels also love to resolve their seed problems with their teeth and just chew through the bird feeder. A feeder with no squirrel protection would give in rather quickly, which could force you to buy a new bird feeder. A good squirrel proof bird feeder doesn’t give in to chewing that easily, meaning that you won’t need to spend money on a new feeder!

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these bird feeders protect the seed from mice and rats as well?

This will depend on their size. If they can’t fit through the cage or are heavy enough to trigger the weight protection, they won’t be able to access the food.

How long does it take for the birds to notice the bird feeder?

There are a lot of factors that could impact this. However, there are a couple of things you could do to make sure that the birds notice the feeder. Firstly, get high-quality seeds, because if your neighbors’ bird food is better, the birds won’t eat from your feeder unless as a last resort. Secondly, install the feeder closer to trees as birds feel safer around them. Lastly, make sure that you don’t put the feeder near kennels as those may repel the birds.

Those squirrels can certainly be a headache, and a good squirrel proof bird feeder can be a handy cure for that issue!

Did you find the best squirrel proof bird feeder for yourself? If so, great, don’t hesitate and buy it! Otherwise, remember the points highlighted in our buying guide and simply continue your searches. You will surely find the right one sooner or later!